Jewelry pieces with transparent epoxy resin Translux D151 Fast

In this Feroca article, we will learn from the beginning to create our own pieces of jewelry using different materials such as putties for modeling, silicones for molding and transparent resins. 

Before starting with this process, let's define what kind of pieces of jewelry you can get. With this technique, you will be able to mass-produce simple parts. Although with practice and ingenuity, you will become an expert and you will be able to make them more elaborate.

One aspect to keep in mind is that these designs have to be simple and have a flat side through which to make the casting.

The results will be: pendants, earrings, beads for bracelets and similar pieces. With transparent, polished and glossy finishes, encapsulated, games and color shapes, etc.

Well, now that you know what kind of pieces you can create after reading this article, it's time to teach you the steps you will have to follow to obtain unique pieces.

How to make jewelry pieces? Step by step

Next, so that you can learn in a practical way what is the process of creating jewelry pieces, we are going to teach you step by step to make a simple pendant in the shape of a prism:

1. Determine the Part Design

First, design the piece on paper thinking about where the hole will be where the washer is passed that will hang it from the chain or string of the pendant.

2. Choosing the best option to produce your part

Once we have the design of the piece, we have two options: make it in 3D and print it or make it by hand.

Making jewelry pieces by hand

To make the piece by hand, there are many ways: with a wooden stud sawing and sanding, modeling it with an epoxy putty, modeling with a polymer plasticine, among others.

Aspects to take into account when making pieces of jewelry with epoxy putty

• If we use the option of epoxy putty, we will need the following: Epofer EX610-A + E610-B putty.

It is a two-component putty that is mixed in equal parts and gives us a working time of about 40 minutes and a curing of 6 hours.

• To model you can use metal modeling tools that are cleaned very easily (we do not recommend wooden tools, because this material does not allow to clean them properly and they spoil).

• To smooth the surface, you can use a brush and isopropyl alcohol.

• Once the modeling is finished, you must let it cure the indicated time.

Aspects to take into account when making jewelry pieces with polymeric plasticine

• If you decide to use a polymer plasticine, you have two options in terms of modeling hardness: a softer Super Sculpey Beige and a harder Super Sculpey Firm Gray.

These plasticines do not have curing time. You can model everything you want and, once you have finished, you bake them at 130º C for 15 minutes for every 6 millimeters thick.

3. Sand the hardened rectangular prism

Once you have your prism hardened, either with putty, plasticine, wood, 3D printed ... You have to sand it lightly with 400P, 600P, 800P and 1000P water sandpaper consecutively. Paying close attention to the edges of the prism so that they are as good as possible.

When we are done with this step, clean the piece well and prepare it to make the mold.

4. How to make silicone molds for jewelry

Preparation of formwork

• On a smooth surface such as a pen cardboard, you must adhere with a hot silicone sticker (the size of a lentil) the piece.

So that there are no burrs left in the mold, seal the base with a little industrial plasticine.

• Leaving a margin of 1 centimeter on each side of the piece, glue some walls of the same pen cardboard with a height greater than 1 centimeter to our piece

This structure is called formwork and, the negative space that remains inside, corresponds to the future silicone mold.

Silicone mixture

When you have the formwork ready, you must proceed to make the silicone mixture.

• To know how much silicone you will need, you can put in the formwork a little rice, almost to the edge and pour it into a plastic cup.

• Finally, make a mark on the glass at the height at which the rice has reached to know the volume of silicone you will need.

Prepare the silicone mixture

• In this case, we will use the TinSil 80-30 with a 24-hour curing agent.

This silicone has three different types of catalysts, depending on the curing time of the silicone: 24, 6, and 2 hours.

We use the 24 h because it allows to better remove the air bubbles that may remain in the mixture, although with the 6 hours it could also be done.

• Place the glass on a kitchen or precision jeweler scale and tare the glass.

• Open the Silastic 3481 bottle and homogenize the silicone by mixing well.

• After 2 minutes, pour it into the glass (tare) until it exceeds 3 or 4 millimeters the mark made previously (better than envelope, to be missing).

• Let's say you have 100 grams of silicone. For that amount you will pour 5 grams of catalyst and mix for 5 minutes, emphasizing the walls of the glass, the bottom and possible remains on the stick you use.

We always recommend using disposable depressants for comfort and safety. We do not recommend using the same stick for everything.

• Once it is mixed, you must pour the mixture into the mold. To do this, you must leave a distance of between 30 or 40 centimeters from the mold to the glass, pour into a corner of the mold and drop a fine thread.

This way you will not only avoid generating bubbles, but these will break.

• Once poured, you must let it dry the indicated 24 hours .

• When the silicone is catalyzed, it unmolds and cleans the mold so that there are no remains.

If there are burrs left, you can cut with manicure scissors.

• Once the mold is dry, you can make the first casting of epoxy resin.

5. Make exclusive jewelry pieces

For these pieces of jewelry, you will need a transparent resin with UV ultraviolet filter. The Translux D151 is the most suitable, as its fast curing (24 hours) will allow you to make small parts faster than the other Translux D150 version.

Here comes into play the imagination and ability to combine materials, pigments, inorganic elements, organic elements, etc. Only, you will have to take into account, that they have to be dehydrated, since moisture affects these resins.

The best pigments for transparent epoxy resin

These are the combinations of pigments that you can use to obtain amazing results and of the highest quality in your pieces of handmade jewelry:

• Polycolor Dyes

A range of 8 colors in container 56 gr. They are very concentrated pigments so a drop can pigment a large amount of resin.

They are ideal for both translucent and opaque tones.

• Ultracolor

A wide range of colors at a very economical price. Ideal for making transparent jewelry pieces.

• Piñata Pigments

Piñata pigments are inks that are diluted very well with Translux D150 resin in any of its versions and are very concentrated.  It is recommended to add them little by little to achieve transparent effects.

To take into account:

The mixing ratio of Translux D151 resin is 2:1 by weight. Therefore, for every 100 grams of part A, you have to put 50 grams of part B. The amount of pigments, loads or elements that you want to add will depend on the effects you want to achieve.

6. Polishing of the part

Once the pendant is cured you will have to polish it, since it will be a little opaque. You can do this in the same way as when you sanded the modeling. With water sandpaper of 400P, 600P, 800P, 1000P and 1500P consecutively.

And, finally, polishing with the Polarshine 10 polishing paste, special to remove the shine to pieces with a sanding greater than 1500P.

This procedure must be done with any type of piece made by us or taken from prefabricated molds, to achieve a perfect shine.

Making pieces with transparent epoxy resin is very simple, you just have to meticulously follow the steps we have mentioned and practice, so that the result looks increasingly professional.

Transparent epoxy resin, the best resin to make jewelry and costume jewelry

The hardness, transparency and brightness of this resin, make it the most suitable to make surprising pieces with great finish, ideal for jewelry and costume jewelry.

Make resin rings, pendants, earrings, bracelets, etc; it will be very simple, you just have to buy your transparent epoxy resin in our stores in Madrid or through the Feroca website, and follow the step by step that we have taught you with our best secrets.

Do not think twice, acquire your resin and all the necessary implements to start creating dream pieces.

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